Background Techniques for Large Die Cuts

If you love bold focal points and a bit of nostalgic flair, the Classic Road Legends collection from Mindy Eggen is going to rev up your creativity! Large die cuts can be intimidating, but with the right background, they shine as the stars of the show. In today’s post, I’m sharing four unique cards with simple background ideas that let those fabulous cars take center stage.

I was thrilled to collaborate with Spellbinders to showcase the Classic Road Legends dies designed by Mindy Eggen. I’ve always had a soft spot for anything vintage, especially old trucks and retro cruisers. This collection instantly transported me back to a time in grandpa’s garage. These dies are not just fun to craft with, they bring back so many memories.

SUPPLIES | Classic Road Legends Collection, Woven Lattice Texture Die, Memory Frames Dies, Bougie Birthday Collection, Classic Road Legend Sentiments, ColorWheel Cardstock, Silver Assortment Cardstock, Glassboard, Glassboard Magnets, P6 Die Cut Machine, Magic Mat, Fine Point Scissors, Craft Pick Pro Tool, Glue Dots, Foam Dots, Foam Adhesive Sheets, Double Sided Tape, Black Foam Adhesive, Mint Tape, Bearly Art Glue, Tape Runner

A complete list of supplies can be found in my Project Gallery
CLASSIC ROAD COLLECTIONAT SBC (while supplies last)
CLASSIC ROAD COLLECTION at SSS (while supplies last)

When using large dies like these, you don’t need an intricate background to create an impactful card. In fact, the simpler the background, the more attention your die cut will get. Let’s take a look at four background styles that work beautifully with this collection:

This Father’s Day card features the Timeless Truck die, done up in a cheery blue that feels warm and nostalgic. I used a lattice background die to add a country feel. It is the perfect for a masculine design with just the right amount of rustic charm behind bold elements. The kraft paper mat and simple sentiment bring it all together without pulling attention away from that beautiful truck.

Next up are two bright and bold designs. The pink summer cruiser and the speedometer birthday card have colorful paper strip backgrounds. Paper strips are a simple way to create a customized color palette.

The Classic Car brings vintage birthday vibes in hot pink. I went with diagonal rainbow strips to give it that bold, summer vibe. The “sassy” sentiment and Polaroid-style frame lean into that retro feel.

The Speedometer is the star of the show, and the strips help reinforce that momentum. For a playful touch, I used vertical stripes in warm colors that mirror vintage racing aesthetics.

To wrap up this collection, I had to go bold! This Muscle Car was just asking for something dramatic, so I created a sunset silhouette scene using ink blending and masking tape. I layered warm reds, oranges, and yellows over a masked mountain horizon and softened the sky with a bit of pink and violet. The result? A dramatic silhouette that looks like it’s racing into the horizon. Perfect for any car lover!

I hope these projects inspire you to make big, bold cards with large die cuts, without overcomplicating the background. Sometimes, all a statement piece needs is a clean canvas to shine.

I’m so excited to see the projects that you create. Don’t forget to share your finished creations with me. You can leave me a comment below with a direct link or tag @misscarriescreations on your favorite social media site.

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